Question maybe for Whiskers?????

[mdturtle]

anyone have any idea on flooding predictions for kentucky lake this spring?? figured whiskers might know with his job??? im a railroader and with all this snow on the ground they are all ready predicting floods for the mississippi river....didnt know if anyone had heard anything for the lake??? forgot to mention....i live in illinois...just might determine my fishing trip down there...thanks!

[CatFan]

Flooding on the Mississippi or Ohio can cause problems with the lakes if they are holding water back for flood control and the Cumberland and Tennessee watersheds get heavy rains.

It helps to look at the geography of where the Ohio, Mississipi, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers get their water. It can be dry along some and flooding along others.

You can see historical levels here Hancock Biological Station - Kentucky Lake Water Quality Monitoring and can see flows, levels and predicted flows here TVA: Reservoir Information and here Kentucky Lake Conditions, Lake Barkely Conditions.

For example, right now Kentucky and Barkley together are flowing about 100,000 cubic feet per second and the water level is almost 2ft higher than normal, but steady to falling. When you see that high flow, falling water and a falling or steady river level, you are usually good to fish because it means current, but if you see the river (lower) level high or climbing and KY/Barkley with rising water levels and low flow, it's a bad sign. That means they are holding flood water out of the Ohio. If the inflow isn't crazy high, fishing on the lakes will be fine, and maybe even good because of flooded brush. With high inflow, you can get muddy water though, and that can shut things down.

[Wiskers]

I was just at a company Captain & Pilot meeting in Nashville. This was 1 of the topics.

Yes, we're gonna get some high water.

With all the snow & ice we've had this winter the worst thing that can happen is sudden, drastic, warm weather, & that's what's come'n. A slow gradual warm up would be ideal but looks like next week we're look'n at warmth, sunshine, & a chance of warm rain reaching pretty far north.

Best case scenario would be slow warming in the mid & southern US while maintaining just moderate/no warming with freezing temps at night in the northern states. This ice needs to melt a little at a time over a period of 2 to 3 weeks. A big warm up & rain could be catastrophic.

This problem is far reaching, encompassing all our major rivers and tributaries. Probably the worst hit will be the Upper & Lower Mississippi River valley & the mid and lower Ohio River valley. I expect there will be some elevated levels on Ky. & Barkley Lake but I don't think right now it will be that significant. The only exception would be if they reduce flows to relieve pressure down stream of Ky & Barkley dams and we get a lot of rain down south. Then the lakes would get pretty high.

I would look for Ky & Barkley to run the heck outta water while they can & keep the pools as close to winter pool as they can, so that they can hold water during the critical time. So if you're planning to fish below 1 of these dams in the next 2 weeks it might be tuff.

In the mean time if you own property in the flood plain get flood insurance of sell quick! The time to plan for flooding is now. Don't wait till the last minute. This would apply if you live in the flood plain of the Upper Miss., Ill., Missouri, Lower Miss., Mid to Lower Ohio, or any of their tributaries.

This is just the opinion of a 35+ year river man.

What CatFan said is pretty much spot on.

[mdturtle]

thanks guys...will keep my eye on it and still gonna plan on an april trip....just will do a lot of praying!!! lol

[chuckauten]

Good reports. Thanks for the heads up.

Chuck